The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development spent N522,490,349 on firearms and ammunition which were not delivered.
The allegation was featured in the Auditor-General for the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Daily Trust said.
“The ministry paid N270,020,066.80 for the procurement of AK Rifles, Red Dots and AK Ammunition for improvement of aviation security operations of the Nation’s Airports on 10th January, 2023 and 23rd May, 2023,” the report said.
It stated that the ministry claimed to have purchased without approval from the National Security Adviser (NSA) and could not give documentation for all due process paperwork (CAC, NSITF, ITF, FIRS etc) to the payment vouchers.
It also added that another sum of N252,470,282.20 was paid on 10th February, 2023 and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1441/21 dated 23rd May, 2023 respectively for acquisition of Sub-Machine Guns, Pistols and Ammunition for strengthening of aviation security at Nation’s Airports.
The report stated: “The sum of N270,020,066.80 (Two hundred and seventy million, twenty thousand, sixty six naira, eighty kobo) was paid as IPC 1 and IPC 2 to a company through two (2) paid vouchers with Ref. No. FMA/ABJ/CAP/1047/22 and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1445/21 dated 10th January, 2023 and 23rd May, 2023, respectively, for the procurement of AK Rifles, Red Dots and AK Ammunition to enhance aviation security operations of the Nation’s Airports.
The National Security Adviser (NSA) has not given the go-ahead to acquire the munitions. The quote of the company for acquisition of AK Rifles, Red Dots and AK ammo was not attached. The paid vouchers did not have all due procedure documentation attached (CAC, NSITF, ITF, FIRS etc). Store Receipt Voucher (SRV) to act as proof that the commodities acquired by the Ministry were not attached to the purchased vouchers.”
In the request for Payment Certificate No, FAAN said it confirmed the guns were executed and handed to the Armoury of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Headquarters, Abuja for safe storage pending the completion of the Authority’s Armoury. Download Interactive Maps
“But there was no evidence/document to show that the firearms were in custody of NSCDC Headquarters for safe keeping,” the report read.
The foregoing anomalies could be ascribed to the inadequacies in the internal control system at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Abuja and risks of diversion of public fund, loss of public monies.
The ministry, in its defence, said the contract for the procurement of weapons to boost aviation security operations at the nation’s airports could be validated as it has gone through all the procurement processes, protocols and the relevant documentation received.
Subscribe To News “The requisite procurement documents and approvals were duly obtained. (See attached Award & Acceptance letters, BPP, Due Process Review Reports, FEC, Contract Agreement, and Letter of clearance form Office of the national Security Adviser, Payment Vouchers and other documents required for payment).The procurement processes and procedures were duly followed before payments were made
Attached herewith is the letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser communicating the Security Clearance for the company for your information. “Enclosed please find the payment vouchers and supporting documents for your information.
But the audit acknowledged the management response to the issue; however, it is rated poor. Hence, the results are valid till the suggestions are adopted.
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It suggested that the permanent secretary should be asked to account before the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly on the money, recover and remit the sum of N270,020,066.80 to the Treasury.
On the second purchase, it said the sum of N252,470,282.20 was paid to the company through two (2) paid vouchers No. FMA/ABJ/CAP/1042/22 dated 10th February, 2023 and FMA/ABJ/CAP/1441/21 dated 23rd May, 2023 respectively, for the procurement of Sub-Machine Guns, Pistols and Ammunition to enhance aviation security at Nation’s Airports.
It said the inconsistencies might be traced to lapses in the internal control mechanism at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Abuja.
The ministry, however, said it had gotten the required procurement papers and clearances in due course.
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“The Procurement processes and procedures were properly followed before payments were made (See attached Award & Acceptance letters, BPP, Due Process Review Reports, FEC, Contract Agreement and Letter of clearance form Office of the National Security Adviser, Payment Vouchers and other documents required for payment).
“The Ministry had all the required procurement documents and did not contravene the provisions of the financial regulations and other circulars.
Please find attached the letter from the Office of the National Security Adviser communicating the Security Clearance for the company for your information. The delivery note is forwarded herewith as per the letter of Director, Finance & Accounts (FAAN) Ref. No. FAAN/HQ/DFA/1/Vol.XI/16 dated 7th August, 2025. “This is not applicable since contract was duly executed.
But the auditors stated the answer was unacceptable and its conclusions stand until the recommendations are implemented.
Participation of foreign corporation through proxy
The audit also accused the government of paying a total of 163,918,943.69 to six contractors for the construction of control towers in six different airports across the country.
It claimed five contractors were paid the value of N30,947,309.22 each on 1st June, 2023 while the remaining one contractor was paid the sum of N9,182,397.59.
The contracts were given on the 24th of May, 2018 at the contract price of N4,459,075,994.19 and were still not completed (particularly the technical aspect), six years after the award. The agreement of 18th November, 2021 in respect of the five contracts were executed by proxy between the Ministry and the representative contractors on behalf of the overseas United Kingdom based companies with the payment in (i) above also received by proxy.
“There was no evidence of work done for the sum paid proxy to the representative contractors and the execution of contract agreement by proxy made the clauses therein difficult to enforce, thereby exposing government to the risk of financial loss in the event of default.”
The ministry replied: “The FGN/Ministry had no engagement/agreement whatsoever with the foreign company. The agreement between the two contractors, outlines the commitment of the six contractors with the foreign company. Your advice to be proactive and see that projects are completed so that we don’t have unneeded inflation is well taken.
You know that the FGN is supposed to deliver funding in time for the completion of the projects. “We have and will continue to comply with the Procurement Regulations as we have followed all the procurement stages in the awarding of the instant contracts.”
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